Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter
National Football Foundation
19 Named to the Grinold Chapter 2026 Scholar-Athlete Class
Nineteen high school senior football players representing 11 different high schools have been selected to the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter 2026 Scholar-Athtete class.
The awards are given to those graduating seniors in the Chapter footprint who have achieved excellence on the gridiron, in the classroom, and in the community.
"We are extremely proud and excited to honor this very talented group of amazing young men," Chapter Executive Director Jim Seavey said. "Their accomplishments on the field speak for themselves. It is what they do in their free time to enhance their schools and their communities, normally wIthout any fanfare, is what truly sets them apart."
The awardees will be attending 17 different colleges in Divisions I, II, and III, including Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Ivy League, Coastal Athletic Association, Northeast 10, Conference of New England, Liberty League, and New England Small College Athletic Conference institutions.
The Chapter has honored the schaolar-athletes since 1976. Over that time 1,046 young men have received the honor.
The complete list of honorees is available here.
UNH’s Smith, Endicott’s Lynch Named 2026 Week 2 Recipients of NEFW/Grinold Chapter Gold Helmet Awards
University of New Hampshire senior running back Joquez Smith, and Endicott College quarterback Shea Lynch are this week’s recipients of the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Awards presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Smith, a native of Tampa, Fla., a graduate of Jesuit High School and a transfer from Temple University, rushed for 122 yards on just 13 carries (9.4 ypc) and scored three touchdowns in the Wildcats 42-35 win over Stonehill. Smith had scoring runs of 26, 34 and 3 yards. The carries, yards and touchdowns were all career single-game highs for Smith at UNH.
Lynch, from Peabody, Mass., and a graduate of Peabody High School, accounted for a career-best six touchdowns in the Gulls’ 49-21 victory at Muhlenberg College. Lynch was 20 of 27 through the air (74.1%) for 249 yards and scoring strikes of 26, 8, 33 and 1 yards. He rushed for scores of 23 and 7 yards among his seven carries for 89 yards (12.7 ypc).
For the twelfth straight year, the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation is the presenting sponsor for both the weekly and end-of-year Gold Helmet Awards presented to student-athletes from FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III institutions throughout New England. The awards will be presented at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on December 10 at the Renaissance Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.
For more information on the Gold Helmet Awards and the New England Football Writers Association, please visit www.newenglandfootballwriters.com
2026 NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION
WEEKLY GRINOLD CHAPTER GOLD HELMET AWARD RECIPIENTS
Division I (FBS/FCS) Division II/III
September 6 William “Pop” Watson, III - UMass Mathias Fowler - Framingham
September 13 Joquez Smith, New Hampshire Shea Lynch, Endicott
Milton Academy's Giovanni named to NFF Team of Distinction
2026 Milton Academy graduate Joe Giovanni has been named to the National Football Foundation 2026 Team of Distinction honoring the nation's top high school scholar-athletes who represent the future leaders of the game and have excelled at the very highest levels in the classroom, on the field and by making an impact in their communities. Giovanni is one of 63 honorees from a nationwide pool of over 3,500 high school football scholar-athletes as selected by the regional chapters of the NFF.
A four-year starter at wide receiver and defensive back for the Mustangs, Giovanni was a two-time Independent School League All-Star selection. Over the course of his junior and senior seasons, Giovanni snared 10 interceptions. A standout of special teams, Giovanni was Milton Academy's primary return specialist on both punts and kickoffs and had five returns for touchdowns over the past two years. In addition to football, Giovanni also competed tot he Mustangs' basketball and track teams.
Giovanni will attend Harvard University in the fall and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Crimson.